Loom feeler and holder therefor



Dec. 21 1926.

W. H. SPENCER LOOM FEELER AND HOLDER THEREFOR Filed April 5. 1926witness Quorum Patented Dec. 21, 192

iJNlTED STATES 1,611,493 PATENT caries.

WILLIAM H. SPENCER, OF LE'WISTON, MAINE, ASSIGNOE TO TEXTILE MACHINEC0lli- PANY, OF LEVISTUN, MAINE. A CURPORATION.

LOOM FEELER AND HOLDER THEREFOR.

Application filed April 5, 1926. Serial No. 99,921.

The invention relates to improvements in automatic loomsprovided withfeelers or detectors which engage the shuttle fillings and automaticallyeffect dofiing of a substantially empty bobbin, and insertion of a newfilling from the magazine. lhe invention relates primarily to feelers ofthe type used on the Crompton and Knowles automatic loom, in. which thefeeler comprises a spring projected slide mounted in a feeler case andprovided with a fixed feeler point and a pivotally mounted detector orswiper. Each time the filling is engaged with a feeler, it comes incontact both with the feeler point and the swiper, and the latter isintended to he held against n'ioven'ient by engagement with the filling.Under certain well known conditions however, this swiper very oftenmoves prematurely and causes dotting of a filling which is by no meansexhausted, whereas movement of said swiper is only in tended to takeplace when the filling has become so exhausted that the feeler point maycontact directly with the bobbin.

It is the object of my invention to provide an exceptionally simple,inexpensive and ctliclent improvement in a feeler of the type se' forthwhich will engage the filling and virtue ly lock the swiper againstbobbindotting movement until the filling has been exhausted to such anextent as to make it essential that a new filling be substituted The useof my invention also permits the loosening of the feeler-projectingspring, so that the feeler does not engage the filling with as muchforce as heretofore, there being consequently less danger of injuringsaid filling.

With the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subjectmatter hereinafter described and claimed, the description beingsupplemented by the accompanying drawing.

Fig); 1 is a horizontal sectional view t-l'lrough the upper portion ofthe feeler case, showing the f ,eler in top plan view and illustratingmy improvement applied to the uwipcr and feeler point.

Fig. 2 isan enlarged horizontal section tl'lrough the front portion ofthe feeler and associated parts, showing the normal relation of suchparts when the feeler is engaged by the filling.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fi 2 but illuse trating the manner in whicht e movement of the swiper is permitted when the feeler point directlyengages the bobbin.

Fig. l. is a transverse sectional view as indicated by line 4l--lof Fig.2.

In the drawing above briefly described. the numeral 5 designates anordinary feeler ease and ti designates the slidab'e feeler mounted insaid case for rearward movement ainst the action of the usual spring 7each ynie the shuttle filling 8 isengaged with the feeler, by movementof the lay toward the breast beam.

The front end of the feeler slide 6 is pro vided with the usual feelerpoint 9, and the wcl lmown swiper or movable detector 10 is provided atone side of said feeler point, this swiper being adjustably pivoted at11 to the slide 6 and having the usual toothed end :3 for engagementwith the filling 8, this end bein spaced slightly in rear of the outerextremity of the feeler point 9, so that when the latter engages thebobbin 13 as indicated in Fig.3, the swiper 10 is free to swingoutwardly as shown in this view, thus effecting movement of the usualpush rods 14 and 15,

to bring the filling-dotting means and the magazine into play so as toautomatically discharge an empty filling and insert a new one from themagazine.

Very often, under certain well known conditions, the swiper 10 willswing outwardly to he position of Fig. 3, before the bobbin i3 isanywhere near exposed by the filling 8, this being due to slippage ofthe swiper upon the filling. Such an occurrence causes prematuredofiingr of the filling and insertion of another, with obvious and wellknown disadvantages. Due to the nature of my invention however, such anoccurrence cannot take place.

I provide-a lateral extension 16 for the swiper 10, said extension beingpreferably in the form of an arm pivoted at 17 to said swiper. Thisextension or arm extends transversely of the feeler point 9 to the sideof the latter remote from the swiper 1t) and is provided at its free endwith a shoe 1.8 to engage the tilting 8, said shoe preferably having abroad flat face to contact with the filling, so that there is no dangerof injuring the atter. In the present showing, the ex: tension or arm 16passes slidably through a slot 19 in he feeler point 9, but if desired,this feeler pointeould be provided with some other means for guidingsaid extension or arm. so that it llil i'lQ*Q 2l{3:lHg surface. like theteeth of the swiper end 12, wil' always be disposed a trivial distancebehind the outer terminal ol the t'ecler point.

By the construction and arrangement shown. it the swiper 10 has anytendency to creep or slide upon the filling) 8, such tendency isresisted by engagen'ient of the extension 16 with said filling, so thatthe outward swinging ot the swiper and consequent change of fillingscannot take place. until the l eeler point 9 actually comes in contactwith the bobbin 13 shown in Fig. 3. lrloreover, it the swiper does nottouch the filling, due to failure of the teeler point to penetrate aconical end portion of: the tillinn' sutficiently, the extension 16.beine closer to the larger end of the conical portion than the swiper.will engage the same and hold said swiper against outward swinging.Thus, the swiper 10 is virtually locked against premature movement anddolling of one filling and insertion of another. cannot take place untilthe filling in the bobbin has been exhausted to such an extent as topermit direct contact of the lceler point with the bobbin. Hence. agreat deal of trouble and expense now encountered in the operation ofautomatic looms are eltectively overcome, more and better work can beproduced. and one attendant may readily look after a greater number ofmachines. lVloreover, due to the combined holding actions of the swiperend 12 and the extension 16, said swiper end need not be held againstthe filling with as much torce as is now required. permitting; thespring 7 to be loosened and insuring that no parts of the teeler shallci 3:1;0 the filling with sullicient force to injure the latter. eventhough it be rayon or some other delicate material.

in the preferred manner 0t constructing: the invention. the inner end oithe arm 16 is formed with a notch 20. This notch receives an ear 2iwhich projects trom the head 22 of a rivet or the like 23. this tastcucr being passed through the swiper 10 at a point behind its end 12.and being: upset as at 2st or otherwise secured. lly this construction,not only can my addition to the ordinary 'teeler be easily andinexpensively manufactured. but it may be connected with theconventional feeler parts in an easy, rapid and inexpensive manner, itbeing simply necessary. according to the present disclosure to form anopening through the swiper 10 to receive the Fastener 23 and to form theopening l9 through the l'ecler point 5).

In every day service, the invention is giving, excellent results and ithas ellectively overcome difiiculties which were previously consideredpractically unsuri'i'iountable, and as these advantages have beenobtained from a device constructed as herein disclosed, the detailswhich I have illustrated are preferably followed. However, within thescope of the invention as claimed variations may. of course, be made.

I claim 2 1. in combination with a loom tcclcr having afilling-engagingpoint and a. swiper pivotally mounted at one side oisaid point and adapted to normally engage the filling and be held by thelatter against outward swinging to filling-changing position; anextension connected with said swiper and extending to the opposite sideof said filling-engap'ing point. said e:\'ten sion having a portion toirictionally engage the filling to hold said swiper against out wardswingingas long as a preriletermincd (piantity ot filling; remains uponthe bobbin.

2. In combination with a loom having; a filling-engaging point, and aswiper pirotally mounted at one side of said point and adapted tonormally engage the filling and be held by the latter against outwardswinging to filling-changing: position; an arm pivoted to said swiperand extending therefrom to the opposite side of said fillin engagingpoint, said arm having a portion adapted to engage the fillingtrictionally to hold the swiper against, outward swinging as long as apredetermined amount 0']? filling remains upon the bobbin. saidfilling-engaging point having a guide throuz-rh which said arm passesslidably.

3. in combimitimi with a loom l'eelcr haying a filling-engaging point,and a swiper pivotally mounted at one side oi said point and adapted tonormally engage the filling and be held by the latter against outwardswinging to filling-changina position; an car secured to and projecting!in wardly from said swiper toward said Jill-- inst-engaging point, thelatter having a slot at the inner end of said car, an arm passingthrough said slot. and apivot coiniecting said arm with said ear the endof the arm remote from the slot being provided with a shoe totrictionally engage the filling and hold said swiper against outwardswinging as long a. 1)redetcrmined amount of the filling remains uponthe bobbin.

in testimony whereof I have hereunto a'l'lixed my signature.

\VILLIAM H. SPENCER.

'l eeler u lllt)

